Our Values: Respect, Accountability, Openness and ...

Essex Fire Authority

2012/13ANNUAL REPORT

Essex CountyFire & Rescue Service

Our Values: Respect, Accountability, Openness and Involvement

Essex County Fire & Rescue Service

Annual Report 2012 – 13

Contents

01 Who we are and what we do ......................................................... 4

Foreword by Chairman of Essex Fire Authority and Chief Fire Officer .................4 Service strategy and actions .............................................................................6

02 What we do with your money ........................................................ 8

03 How we are measuring up ........................................................... 10

Our performance this year ...............................................................................10 Emergency Special Services ...........................................................................12 Performance at a glance .................................................................................13

04 Our people make a difference everyday .................................... 16

Workforce transformation ................................................................................19 New ways of working for our crews .................................................................19

05 Making the best of our assets .................................................... 20

Minister breaks ground on emergency control centre ......................................20 Green credentials recognised ..........................................................................22 New cold fire investigation training facility ........................................................24

Two water bowsers on the run ........................................................................27 Major IT replacement project ...........................................................................28

Employee safety paramount ...........................................................................28

06 Projects we’re really proud of ..................................................... 30

Youth engagement leads the way on results ....................................................30 London Olympics 2012 – a show of resilience .................................................32 On the road reducing traffic casualties .............................................................36

07 Lets talk......................................................................................... 38

Comments, compliments & complaints ...........................................................38 Feedback form ................................................................................................39


Matching resources to risk

Who we are and what we do

01

2 012/13 was a significant year for

the Service. It brought the end of

a four-year dispute with the Fire

Brigades Union and provided a

global platform with the London 2012 Olympics

to demonstrate our strength in planning and

resilience for major emergency as the County

staged one of its biggest ever sporting events at

Hadleigh Farm.

ECFRS has continued on its journey of

improvement with clear plans and strategies

to support functional and organisational

transformation. Our approach has been pro-

active in light of the current financial challenges

and in consideration of a reducing number of

operational incidents attended over the last six

years. Our planning and preparedness is based

on the fact that a reduction in fire calls has not

been mirrored by any significant reduction in the

scale of the risk. In some areas, like those relating

to extreme weather, our risks have actually

increased and there is an emerging expectation

for us to respond to a wider range of incidents

beyond those required by statute.

The Service has recognised the need to

change in order to meet its risk profile. Examples

are the considerable investment in our water

rescue response, the addition of two water

bowsers to enhance our operational response

and significant enhancements in our ‘Special

Operations’ capability so that we can respond

effectively to more complex incidents such as

terrorist attacks.

Essex is experiencing a sustained increase in

population, traffic and housing, which all place

a demand on a public service such as ours.

Beyond our emergency response, we have

delivered significant protection work for work

places and successfully delivered more targeted

prevention work within the communities and on

the roads.

Like the whole of local Government, the

UK fire and rescue service will face many

challenges over the next five to 10 years driven

by the need to operate effectively in more

austere times with available resources, principally

funding, diminishing year on year. Against this

background, ECFRS must continue to find

innovative ways to meet the growing demands

for its services. We are adopting an intelligence

led approach, matching our resources to risk

and targeting those most vulnerable. By looking

at new ways of working we have been able to

be more flexible in our priority of maintaining

appliance availability and achieving optimum

use of resources available to us at any one time.

Initiatives such as pre-arranged out duties have

continued to support the principle of the right

person in the right place at the right time.

Our desire to constantly seek to do more

with our resources, together with a clear

understanding of risk, are key to the delivery

of safer communities. This strategy is delivered

by a dedicated and committed workforce,

willing and prepared to go the extra mile. Our

Workforce Transformation Programme will

support those staff with career develop, training

and opportunity to ensure they are the best

they can be and will underpin organisational

development representative of a modern,

progressive organisation willing to embrace a

changing world.

Anthony Hedley Chairman, Essex Fire Authority

Chief Fire Officer, Chief Executive & Head of Essex Civil Protection and Emergency Management David Johnson

4


We cover 366,980 hectares, across 14 local authority areas

We serve a population of 1.712 million

In 2012/13 we attended 14,081 incidents

We currently employ:

800 wholetime,

495 retained firefighters,

45.5 Control personnel

265.8 support staff

We have 51 fire stations:

12 Wholetime,

34 Retained,

four Day crewed and

one Urban Search and Rescue

We have a budget £77.279 million

105 fire engines:

31 special appliances,

Three boats,

two water bowsers

❝

£

5


For the PublicResources where we need them the most

• Protect core values of excellent fire and rescue services to people in need.

• Reduced fire risk for high risk groups and communities, particularly old people and deprived communities.

• Proportionate cover – service matched to risk; less constrained by infrastructure.

• More mobile, flexible cover, rapidly adjusting to risk changes.

For CommunitiesTailored services, shared responsibilities

• More informed, more engaged, more resourceful citizens and businesses increasingly support prevention and protection activities in their own communities.

• Joint work with partners in emergency service planning and delivery.

• Shared services, resources and responsibilities with partners and communities where it adds value

For TaxpayersLower costs and improved outcomes

• Assets and resources effectively utilised and shared where possible.

• Reduction in headcount over time.

• Crewing systems which meet demand efficiently.

For our peopleInnovative, forward looking trusted leaders at all levels

• Assets and resources effectively utilised and shared where possible.

• Reduction in headcount over time.

• Crewing systems which meet demand efficiently.

• Integrated, supportive internal cultures.

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Service Strategy

The Service’s strategic vision, objectives and actions formed the basis for ECFRS’ detailed plans for 2012/13.

Vision: Where do we want to be?

We want to be able to direct our resources and services more flexibly to where they are most needed, reducing risks as well as costs, and supporting wider civil resilience in communities.

6


Fire CoverShift fire cover toward high risk areas

• Adjust crewing systems in areas of overprovision to enable redeployment to areas of need and reduce operational servicedelivery costs.

• Moderate response to Automatic Fire Alarms to free up time.

• Continue to review pre-determined attendances at incidents.

Community safetyTailor community safety services

• Use freed time to expand and improve ‘upstream’ services of prevention and protection for targets groups.

• Strengthen relationships with key industries, businesses and communities to increase their self-sufficiency with regard to prevention, protection and organisational resilience.

Data & intelligenceBuild insight

• Provide resources for better intelligence to help target resource allocation decision.

• Tighten cost, supplier and performance management.

PeopleBroaden roles, toughen rules

• Increase average utilisation and capacity for specialisms (eg urban rescue) including community engagement

• Support the development of effective leaders.

• Target training at business need and specific roles.

• Implement clearer, tighter performance management.

AssetsShare assets

• Improve utilisation of assets and services

CultureBuild freedoms and support

• Give more freedom for station commanders and watch managers to define services, within a clear performance and value framework.

• Give the Headquarters’ departments a clear role which defines how they intervene.

• Encourage a flexible approach to uniformed/non-uniformed split of roles

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Actions

From 2011-2015 we will continue to focus on making our communities safer. We will do this by delivering more proportionate cover based on intelligence-led risk assessment. We will use the freed time and resources for wider and more targeted prevention and protection, and we will build new freedoms and powers for fire stations.

7


á

£4.8£20áá

£52.6£77

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02Essex County Fire & Rescue Service are…

What we do with your money

P ay continues to be the biggest cost to the Fire

Authority. Prudent financial management has been

at the heart of decision making, with all Service

managers looking for savings and efficiencies in all

areas of operations. As a result, the Service delivered an underspend

of £4,679K during 2012/13.

The long-running industrial action – finally settled in October 2012 -

prevented firefighters from working overtime or accepting temporary

promotions, contributing to a £1.1m underspend in firefighter pay.

At the year end, on the Service payroll were: 809 wholetime

firefighters, 495 firefighters employed on the retained duty system,

45.5 (full time equivalent) Control staff and 265.8 (full time equivalent)

support staff.

There was also an underspend of £1.454k on other costs and

services, mainly due to a reduction in consultancy costs related

to spending on ICT projects. The remaining underspend relates to

professional fees and insurance third party costs.

Premises and equipment was underspent by £478k. Transport

costs were £118k under budget mainly as a result of lower spend this

year on petrol and diesel.

The severe weather in the last quarter of the financial year has had

a significant impact on ECFRS’ utilities spend, which at £654k was

£132k above budget.

Total capital expenditure was £4.8m against a revised budget of

£4.6m.

Operational income was up £1,012k against budget. The main

variances were as a result of Government grants, secondment income

and equipment and general sales.

The general reserves of the Authority were £11m on March 31,

2012. Prior to the Government’s 2010 spending review, reserves were

held at a lower level reflecting the expectation of annual increases in

both council tax and government funding. The risks that there could

be significant unplanned costs arising were limited in the main to

variances in spending on retained firefighters.

However, with uncertainty about the impact of Government

decisions such as the localisation of council tax benefit and the moves

towards part of ECFRS’ funding being directly derived from business

rates, new risks face the Authority in 2013/14. In addition, fire and

rescue services are now seeing reductions in the level of Government

funding, rather than increases. Against this background, ECFRS –

in line with many local authorities – recognises that this uncertainty

means that it makes good financial sense to increase reserves.

Total Budget (Million)

Pay Costs (Million)

Non-Pay Costs (Million)

Capital Expenditure (Million)

8

Description Actual £’000s

Budget £’000s

Variance £’000s % Variance

Firefighters 36,034 37,015 (982) -3%

Firefighters - Retained Duty System 4,750 5,067 (318) -6%

Control Staff 1,599 1,716 (117) -7%

Support Staff 10,016 9,701 315 3%

Total Employment costs 52,398 53,499 (1,101) -2%

Support Costs 2,121 2,224 (103) -5%

Premises & Equipment 9,692 10,183 (491) -5%

Other Costs & Services 2,278 4,134 (1,856) -45%

Ill health pension costs 131 400 (269) -67%

Financing Items 12,730 11,276 1,454 13%

Operational income (5,376) (4,319) (1,057) 24%

Contribution to/(from) Reserves 3,360 (117) 3,477 ++

Total Other Costs 24,935 23,780 1,155 5%

Total Budget 77,333 77,279 54 0%

Total Funding (77,333) (77,279) (54) 0%

Funding Gap/Surplus (0) (0) (0) ++


9


Our performance this year

How we are measuring up

03

Lowest incident numbers on record

❝ T he total number of incidents attended by ECFRS in

2012/13 was 14,081, down 13 per cent - 2,958

incidents - compared to the same period in 2011/12.

The last four months of the year recorded some of the

lowest incident numbers on record.

Despite a sharp fall because of policy changes introduced in early

2011, the greatest number of calls for attendance remains from alarms

with automatic fire alarms accounting for 23 per cent of all calls for

attendance since April 2012.

Calls to small fires in the open were the second most common call

type, even though these calls were down nearly 75 per cent on the

same period the year before. This is a likely reflection of the inclement

wet weather conditions, which were also responsible for the larest call

type increase – flooding, up 7 per cent with 151 additional incidents

of this kind.

Community Safety performance indicators have shown good

performance against their targets and when compared to performance

from the previous year. Indeed, performance for the rate of primary fires

is much better than target and last year, including the rate of deliberate

primary fires. The rate of accidental dwelling fires, while better than that

recorded over the same time period last year, remains lower than target

following a spike in incidents in September 2012 and a second, smaller

spike in March this year. Kitchen fires continue to be the main fire type

here, comprising 57 per cent of all accidental dwelling fires.Tota

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10

Performance IndicatorActual

performance 2012/13

Compared with target

Compared with previous year

Number of primary fires per 100,000 population 136.9 156.1 154.6

Number of fatalities in primary fires per 100,000 population 0.7 0.4 0.5

Number of non-fatal casualties per 100,000 population 4.9 3.8 5.3

Number of deliberate primary fires per 10,000 population 2.8 4.1 3.3

Number of deliberate secondary fires per 10,000 population 5.2 8.9 8.9

Rate of accidental dwelling fires per 10,000 dwellings 12.9 12.2 13.7

The number of hoax calls attended 242 301 312

Number of False alarms caused by automatic fire detection apparatus 1666 2995 1694

Number of people killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents 659 770 750

Working days lost due to sickness – uniform staff 7.9 6.3 7.2

Working days lost to sickness absence – non-uniform staff 8.9 6.8 8.6

No. of working days lost due to sickness absence – all staff 8.0 6.6 7.6

Operational availability – wholetime (%) 86.0 97.0 84.2

Operational availability – retained duty system (%) 84.6 90.0 82.8

Wholetime Mobilise – Time of station alert to proceeding – % within 2 minutes 69.8 75.0 63.0

Retained Mobilise – Time of station alert to proceeding – % within 6 minutes 75.6 75.0 75.7

Call Handling – Calls handled within 60 seconds (%) 63.4 75.0 61.4




11

C1


E CFRS’ performance in respect of the rate of

casualties from primary fires is worse than

target with a spike in non-fatal casualties (20)

recorded for March. Five injuries were as a

result of deliberate fires, the rest from accidental fires.

Although higher than target, the year-end rate of non fatal

casualties is better than the performance recorded for the

same period last year. With respect to fatalities, ECFRS is

performing worse than target and worse than last year. There

were five fire deaths from a single incident at Barn Mead,

Harlow, in October.

The number of KSI (killed and seriously injured) casualties

from road traffic collisions – not just those attended by ECFRS,

the rate of deliverate secondary fires, as well as the number

of hoax calls and false alarms due to apparatus attended are

all better than target and better when compared to last year’s

performance. The trend for KSI, deliverate secondary fires and

hoax calls continues to fall, with false alarms due to apparatus

currently stable over time.

Both wholetime and retained operational availability remain

better when compared to last year’s performance. Although

each is yet to achieve target, performance for both is improving

and approaching target in the long term.

Performance with respect to mobilisation within target time

is improving but remains below target for wholetime, though

much better than last year, and on target and stable for

retained duty crews, slightly worse than last year.

Call handling has improved throughout the year with all

key performance indicators performing better than the same

period last year. Performance with respect to calls handled

within 60 seconds continues to improve steadily although is

yet to achieve target.

Incidents*

8427

ESS (Emergency Special Service) FIRE *Excluding false alarms

Quick Facts • Despite the sharp fall because of policy changes, false alarms remain the most common incident category in 2012/13 – 43 per cent of all incidents attended • Fires account for 31 per cent of calls and emergency special service incidents 26 per cent. • Fire incidents are slightly more common on the average weekend day compared to the average week day • ECFRS attended most incidents between the hours of 5pm and 6pm, with overall incident numbers being greatest between 4pm and 7pm • False alarm incidents happened mainly between 8am and 10pm, peaking around noon, as well as between the hours of 5pm and 7pm. • Emergency special service incidents were most common between 8am and 7pm.

12

C2

C3

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Rescues

Injuries

Fatalilties

904

1173

50

Includes 9 Fire Deaths

• Despite the sharp fall because of policy changes, false alarms remain the most common incident category in 2012/13 – 43 per cent of all incidents attended • Fires account for 31 per cent of calls and emergency special service incidents 26 per cent. • Fire incidents are slightly more common on the average weekend day compared to the average week day • ECFRS attended most incidents between the hours of 5pm and 6pm, with overall incident numbers being greatest between 4pm and 7pm • False alarm incidents happened mainly between 8am and 10pm, peaking around noon, as well as between the hours of 5pm and 7pm. • Emergency special service incidents were most common between 8am and 7pm.


13

Apr-09

Performance since April 2009

Dec-09 Aug-10 Apr-11 Dec-11

5 Year Target Family Group Average

Aug-12 Apr-13 Dec-13 Aug-14

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Performance relative to 5 year target

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20

40

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120

140

160

180

200

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Apr-09


Dec-09 Jul-10 Feb-11 Oct-11


Jun-12 Jan-13 Sep-13 May-14 Jan-15

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NI 49i - Number of primary fires per 100,000 population

NI 49ii - Number of fatalities in primary fires per 100,000 population

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Apr-09




Jun-12 Jan-13 Aug-13 Apr-14 Dec-14

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Jun-12 Jan-13 Aug-13 Apr-14 Dec-14

Num

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NI 49iii - Number of non-fatal casualties per 100,000 population

NI 33i - Number of deliberate primary fires per 10,000 population

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15


The people who make a difference everyday…

Our people make a difference every day

04

16

à


T he Service’s Workforce

Transformation Programme

has made significant

progress during 2012/13

with a complete review of HR and Training

activity. The drive is for training to be matched

to operational and organisational need and

for ECFRS people to be the best they can

be – maximising their personal potential and,

in turn, improving the performance of the

organisation.

The programme has been realigned and

resources re-focussed, to ensure 2013/14

is a year of delivery. Designed to be self-

funding, the programme will bring about

a total overhaul of ECFRS’ people policies

and processes as part of an organisational

development strategy to deliver a modern,

progressive culture throughout the

organisation and help people to be the best

they can be.

Work has been going on this year in

fire stations and departments to promote

the Service’s core values of Openness,

Accountability, Respect and Involvement.

And, through a series of focus groups, the

HR and OD team has been developing

a Competency Framework to be used

in the future to help people to work to a

common set of behaviours and values. The

Competency Framework was developed

during discussions and workshops with

employee groups from across the Service

and through the use of employee surveys

where staff identified what behaviours were

important to them.

As the Workforce Transformation

Programme unfolds, it will deliver improved

HR support and guidance for line managers,

enhanced career and personal development

opportunities for all, clarity of roles and

expectations and the development of a

culture of excellence in people practices.

Our values RespectAccountabilityOpennessInvolvement

17


Major IncidentsClacton – Rescue Dog Kirby took less than a minute to find a man trapped in rubble after the house he lived in collapsed following a gas explosion.

Crews pulled the man out of the rubble alive and another family were rescued from the roof of the building. Tragically, the explosion did claim one life.

Barn Mead, Harlow

A tragic Fire in the Barn Mead,

Harlow, claimed the lives of five

members of the same family

last October and made national

headlines. Investigations into the

cause of the incident continue

as part of a major Essex Police

investigation.18


T he Service’s drive for operational efficiency

continued at a pace against the Fire

Authority mandate that there should be no

job losses, no fire station closures and no

reduction in the number of frontline appliances.

A number of significant milestones were achieved:

• The move from two wholetime appliances to one

wholetime and one appliance crewed on the

retained duty system at Brentwood Fire Station

• An additional wholetime operational resource in the

Uttlesford area, based in Great Dunmow, to support

additional safer communities initiatives

• New ways of working have been introduced

through the use of pre-arranged out duties, first

responder schemes and mixed crewing

The transition at Brentwood was a huge team effort from

the early recruitment campaign to attract new retained

firefighters, through support to raise fitness standards of

potential candidates, signing them up and then putting in

place a rigorous programme of training to get them ready

to go on the run. As the recruitment process progressed,

colleagues at Brentwood Fire Station and other retained

stations locally supported the recruits in their integration into

the Service until they were finally ready to tackle incidents.

Other changes at the station including building works

and the creation of an alerting system, were ready to roll in

time for the change over at the end of the year.

The decision to change crewing arrangements at

Brentwood Fire Station was taken after a countywide

review revealed that the first appliance attended 45% less

incidents a year than the average appliance and the second

appliance less than half the number of incidents attended

on average by second appliances.

The changes at Brentwood were instigated as part of the

Service’s fire cover review programme.

New ways of working for operational crews

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19


F ire Minister Brandon Lewis MP officially

broke ground on ECFRS’ multi-million

pound emergency control centre -

the largest construction project ever

undertaken by Essex Fire Authority.

The £8.5 million development will extend the Service’s

Kelvedon Park Headquarters to create a brand new

emergency control centre, inter active and standard

training rooms, along with extra administrative and welfare

areas on a 2,300 square metres template – the equivalent

of nine tennis courts.

The project to relocate the Control operation – currently

based in Hutton and where emergency 999 calls are

received – had been on hold in anticipation of the last

Government’s plans to create Regional Control Centres.

When those plans collapsed last year, the Service needed

to make its own arrangements.

The Minister marked the official start of the second

phase of construction work by turning the first sod of

earth on the building site at a special ceremony in early

December . The project is scheduled for completion in

March 2014.

As Durwards Hall, ECFRS’ headquarters building has

existed since the Doomsday Book was written and the

extension has been designed to incorporate design detail

which mirrors over 200 years of development on the site.à

Essex County Fire & Rescue Service uses…

Making the best of our assets

05

Minister Breaks ground on Emergency Control ❝

20


21


T he Service’s Carbon

Management Plan received

approval from the Carbon

Management Trust with

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service

becoming one of two UK fire and rescue

services to graduate from the Carbon Trust

Public Sector Programme.

The Carbon Management Plan, which

was published in October 2012, sets out

ambitious plans designed to assist the

Service in reducing its 2006 carbon footprint

by 20% by 2015.

Work to lessen the impact that ECFRS’

operations and activities have on the

environment is constantly monitored and

forms a part of all planning work.

ECFRS’ clearest demonstration of its

commitment to the green agenda has been

in the construction work at its Kelvedon

Park headquarters site.

Green credentials❝

22


O ur firefighters continue to

justify their well-earned

reputation as community

role models – going the

extra mile with schemes and initiatives designed

to save lives.

A series of special courses took place at

Chelmsford Fire Station to teach parents vital

first aid skills which could help them save a baby

or toddler’s life in an emergency.

The first Emergency First Aid for Parents

course took place in November at Chelmsford

Fire Station.

The initiative was spearheaded by White

Watch Leading Firefighter Karl Smith, now

stationed at Leigh. The courses were funded

entirely through donations and sponsorship from

local business E2V and Heritage Leisure, Great

Baddow, in conjunction with St John Ambulance

Service.

The course covered common childhood

illnesses including meningitis, asthma,

convulsions, burns and croup. First parent

participants had 20 children between them, so

with just a single course, the scheme provided

extra protection to those children, not to mention

dozens of other schoolfriends and young people

that cross their paths on the school run.

Saving Little Lives❝

This year has seen ECFRS expand its shared services strategy – providing additional value for money to council tax payers

by maximising use of its fire stations by inviting in partner agencies.

Along with Tiptree and West Mersea, Brightlingsea Fire Station now houses the local Police Station

and The Coastguard has moved in at South Woodham Ferrers.❝

Essex CountyFire & Rescue ServiceOur Values: Respect, Accountability, Openness and Involvement

In assocation with

23


A new training facility has

been established to

teach the delicate art

of fire investigation.

The Community Safety team in

partnership with the Training team

and Property Services have designed,

developed and delivered a purpose

built Fire Investigation Training Facility at

ECFRS’ site at Wethersfield. The facility

consists of a multi compartment unit that

can be set up as real fire scenes, ignited,

extinguished and then investigated to

determine cause, origin and fire spread.

Fire investigations provide ECFRS with

some of the best operational information

and intelligence available to tell us what

type of fires we attend, who or what

causes them and most importantly, what

we can do as a Service to reduce and

prevent them.

With ECFRS already providing up

to 2,000 fire investigations a year, the

new facility will enable us to benchmark

the training and development of our

operational managers and allow us to

be more ambitious about continuous

professional development in fire

investigation. We can also use the facility

to train alongside our colleagues in Essex

Police, Trading Standards and others to

reinforce and improve our joint working.

Community Safety has also developed

a number of new products to accompany

the facility including a contemporaneous

notebook for operational managers.

Training at the new facility began in April

2012, with 21 courses planned for Crew

and Watch Managers.

Fire Investigation Manager and manager

for the project David Hadjicostas said:

“This facility demonstrates the Service’s

absolute commitment to quality training,

and provides a state of the art resource.

We will be providing better investigations

leading to better information leading to

even more intelligent targeting of those

members of our communities most at risk

of fire death and serious injury.”

New Cold Fire Investigation Training Facility ❝

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25


V olunteers at the 2012

Olympics raised the

bar on big society. On

a much smaller scale,

but equally dedicated to the cause,

ECFRS’ newly recruited volunteers are

blazing their own trail.

A special pilot scheme is currently

taking place to use volunteers to

enhance the work carried out by the

Service.

Following a trial partnership with a

voluntary organisation in Southend, the

pilot scheme is now being managed

in house, expanded county wide and

will see a wider brief for volunteers to

undertake an expanded community

safety role.

With 25 volunteers now recruited

across the County, they will primarily

undertake home fire safety visits, support

service events and hand out safety

literature in the community. Volunteers

also play a key role in supporting the

Essex Fire Museum, currently housed at

Grays Fire Station.

Lisa Hart, Volunteer Manager, has

been seconded to Community Safety to

oversee the pilot. She said: “By running

the scheme in house we are able to build

our knowledge in the voluntary sector

and better ensure that those recruited

offer a good fit with the fire service

ethos. We can also make sure that the

role they are undertaking is one which

helps enhance the Service’s existing

capabilities and resources.

“The volunteers come from all walks

of life and have put themselves forward

because they are community minded

people who want to help and have an

interest in fire safety.”

Brian Jacobs is one of the first recruits

and has joined the scheme after retiring

from a career in the Fire Service. “When

the role was advertised I could see that

there was an opportunity to make a

real difference in making people safer

using the skills I had developed during

my career. As well as getting me out of

the house, I also get to meet so many

interesting people.

“And the best thing of all is I get

to provide advice which could one

day save a life. It’s definitely been a

learning curve, but one that has been

enjoyable and rewarding.” Lisa said:

“We are looking for people who have

some spare time and want to help their

local community.

Volunteers Become Part Of The Service ❝

For more information about the roles available, contact Lisa on 01376 576 037

or at [email protected]

26


T he Service’s two new water

bowsers, based at Chelmsford

and Halstead Fire Stations,

went on the run as the Service

maintained its commitment to deliver investment

in the frontline.

The appliances were bespoke-built for ECFRS

by Angloco and each holds approximately

12,500 litres of water for firefighting, along with

two similar capacity portable dams. Designed

to provide maximum versatility - and although

able to be used as a static water supply - the

bowsers’ primary function is delivering and filling

those dams at incidents where water supplies

are short. They do not replace firefighting

pumps.

Although bowser operators will require

some assistance with the siting of the dams

and laying hose lines, the reduced numbers

of personnel required to secure the equivalent

of what is almost seven front line pumping

appliances worth of water is influencing incident

commanders to make an early attendance call

as they develop their water management plans.

Two water bowsers on the run❝

27


T he safety and welfare of its

employees remains ECFRS’ key

priority.

ECFRS has established clear

responsibilities for the safety of employees at all

levels, supported through the Health, Safety and

Welfare team at Service headquarters.

The Authority has a robust process for measuring

and evaluating the effectiveness of health and safety

management and improving performance of its

health, safety and welfare activities.

The Chief Fire Officer has endorsed and supports

regional peer health and safety audits following the

RoSPA QSA model. The Service will be audited

every two and a half years and ECFRS H&S

Manager commits one week every year to carry

out peer audits within the region.

The Health and Safety team maintains records

of all recorded hazards, near misses, accident/ill

health, attacks on Service personnel and hazardous

material incidents so it can provide professional

advice to all employees. These records are

evaluated by the H&S Manager and Health, Safety

and Welfare Strategy Group to identify strengths and

weaknesses and to pinpoint areas for improvement

Employee safety is paramount

Major IT replacement project

❝

❝

Health & Safety Reported Safety

Events for period 2012/13

164

169

19

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The ICT team successfully delivered the Nimbus project with the majority of Service users now migrated onto

the new cloud-based computer system. This was an enormous undertaking which equated to more than 500

desktop installations, around 100 new printer installations and the setting up of some 1,500 new user accounts

to give all employees access to a personal e-mail account.

28

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29


Engaging the Community

Projects we’re really proud of

06Breaking new ground with youth engagement❝ T he youth engagement team

has continued to build on

its now well-documented

success and this year broke

new ground with two Firebreak courses with

a difference.

Adults with learning difficulties took part

in their own tailored course and the Service

later staged a course for children living with

their mothers at a women’s refuge. Once

again, ECFRS welcomed back more young

people with Down’s Syndrome as part of

the now well-established relationship with

the charity Downs Syndrome 21 bringing

the total of courses to four.

The first course for adults with learning

difficulties took place at Corringham

Fire Station in October was funded by

Thurrock Council and the Community

Safety Partnership. All the students were

nominated by Thurrock Lifestyle Solutions.

That same month, the course for children

from the women’s refuge was staged at

Harlow Fire Station and involved a group of

six young people whose mothers had left

abusive relationships. This course was part

funded by Safer Places, the independent

charity dedicated to supporting adults and

children affected by domestic abuse.

These courses were held in addition to

the routine programme of courses staged

each year. ECFRS’ Firebreak programme

is aimed at children between 13 and 17

years. The programme promotes a culture

of safety and citizenship by teaching and

encouraging a range of life skills while

engaging in the fundamental disciplines of

the fire service. Participants are encouraged

to work as part of a team, respecting

diversity and difference. It is designed to

educate students on the consequences

of behaviour and actions, instilling a sense

of self-discipline, self worth, independence

and responsibility. Young people learn

about road safety and fire safety and are

encouraged to make the most of their

potential and play and active part in their

local community.

30


The Service continued to deliver its Young Fire Fighter courses across the County and

is building on its work with the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme, remaining the only fire

and rescue service authorised as an independent Operating Authority for one of the

country’s best known and prestigious young Awards.

28

2

7

Firebreak courses were completed from April 2012 to March 2013

A total of 328 students took part in these courses and 91.5% completed

the course successfully, earning an Alliance Qualifications Awards (AQA)

certificate. These results are amongst the very best in the country. 50% of

these students were said by their teachers to have improved their Attitude

to Peers as well as their Attitude to Staff following the course. Just 5% were

reported to have deteriorated in this respect.

Extra21 Firebreak courses were held during 2012/13

Our ‘Extra 21 Firebreak’ course (a course run specifically for students

with Down syndrome), has been a resounding success and we have

now run five courses, which have been successfully completed by

59 students. This partnership is set to continue with another course

planned for 2013/14. The Extra21 Firebreak was recognised as an

initiative that has achieved outstanding results in the Emergency

Services Awards 2011; being selected out of fire and rescue service

initiatives being run throughout the UK to win the Fire Safety

Education Award.

YFF courses took place in 2012/13, including one Duke of Edinburgh course.

ECFRS has continued to extend the Young Firefighter schemes and this scheme now

operates at 11 locations across Essex. Between April 2012 and March 2013, 135 students

completed the Young Firefighters 17-week or 21-week Duke of Edinburgh courses, with

a completion rate of 92.5%. For the first time, the 2012 DofE course saw five students

earn the full Silver award.

31


Olympics 2012: a show of resilience on national stage

T he world’s eyes were on Essex

as the County hosted thousands

of spectators at Hadleigh Farm

for the Olympic Mountain Biking

event last summer.

ECFRS’ attendance as part of a multi-

agency emergency response capability was the

culmination of 18 months of painstaking planning,

preparation and training to ensure visitors to Essex

enjoyed a safe and secure Games.

With international dignitaries landing in the UK

at Stansted, a major park and ride operation at

Lakeside, increased traffic on the road network

and thousands of people using Essex hotels and

camp sites as an economic base, the Service

was under considerable pressure throughout the

period of the Games and the Paralympics, not

only protecting the County but providing support

to neighbouring Fire and Rescue Services with

events on their patch.

Throughout the Hadleigh Farm weekend, 20

officers were based on site, supported by three off

road vehicles, delivering all the equipment crews

were likely to need to deal with any eventuality

inside the venue. ECFRS had a Command

team working within the Event Control Room, a

Workplace Fire Safety team, as well as operational

teams at the ready.

Assistant Divisional Officer Justin Benson-

Ryal, Olympics Project Manager, said: “Of the

three off road vehicles, one was the six-wheel

drive Pinzgauer, capable of accessing even the

toughest terrain and equipped with hose reels

and a water supply. We also took along two Ford

Rangers, one equipped with firefighting gear and

the other with rescue equipment. We also had line

rescue equipment to support medical teams with

any casualty removal in the less accessible areas

of the venue, as well as, hose reels, and water-

backpacks to deal with any potential fires.

“We worked with our partners in the other

blue lights services, local authorities and venue

managers for 18 months to ensure we were fully

prepared and following a safe and successful

weekend event, it was fantastic to see that

planning paid off.”

❝

32


33


New approach to spreading the word on safety

T his year, the Service has taken a more

strategic approach to its media messages

with a joined up County wide approach

linking in with national themes.

It makes for a stronger message and allows the Service

to capitalise on incident publicity to promote a relevant and

timely warning. A monthly media planner sets out campaign

themes delivered through local community safety officers

and fire stations with supporting literature and promotion.

A co-ordinated and locally branded set of flyers and posters

are delivered at the same time as DCLG national television,

radio and poster campaigns are hitting the Essex streets.

This is becoming a powerful, cost effective tool for

delivering safety messages, particularly through the

emerging social media channels. ECFRS now has more

than 9,000 Twitter followers and over 3,000 Facebook

followers. Using these channels appropriately and effectively,

the Service is able to reach many thousands of people

without the need for expensive advertising campaigns.

More strategies are being developed to capitalise on this

key communications channel and the Service has already

enlisted uniformed and non-uniformed staff to take on the

role of official representatives.

❝

34

www.essex-fire.gov.uk

ECFRS SAFETY CAMPAIGN CALENDAR 2013

Electrical fires account for around one fifth of all domestic fires attended. The campaign focuses on overloaded sockets and encouraging people to make sure that their appliances are safe.

With the arrival of summer comes a huge increase in the numbers of field and outdoor fires. This campaign will highlight how destructive field fires can be and how to be barbeque safe.

The most common place for a fire to start in the home is the kitchen and one in ten of those fires result in injury. This campaign coincides with National Chip Week.

The most common place for a fire to start in the home is the kitchen and one in ten of those fires result in injury. This campaign highlights the dangers of leaving cooking unattended and gives tips on how to be safe in the kitchen.

Smoke alarms are proven life savers. This campaign encourages people to test their smoke alarms. It centres around clocks going forward and asks householders to test their alarm as they change their clocks.

This campaign will highlight the importance of smoke alarms and encourage people to make sure that they have a smoke alarm and to make sure that any elderly or vulnerable family or neighbours have properly fitted and working smoke alarms.

More people die in fires caused by smoking materials than any other. This campaign will target smokers and highlight incidents which have been started by smoking materials.

Smoke alarms are proven life savers. This campaign encourages people to test their smoke alarms. It centres around the clocks going back and asks householders to test their alarm as they change their clocks.

This campaign will highlight the importance of smoke alarms and encourage people to make sure that they have a smoke alarm and to make sure that any elderly or vulnerable family or neighbours have properly fitted and working smoke alarms.

As the days get shorter and the evenings darker many people light candles and this month’s campaign focuses on how to do this safely. November is also when Hindus celebrate Diwali – the festival of light.

Highlighting how important it is not only to have a smoke alarm but to plan for what to do when that alarm goes off. This campaign will make people think about their escape route so they are ready should the worst happen.

A wide variety of fire safety messages including those associated with Christmas decorations, cooking safety and drinking. This campaign includes the 12 Christmas safety tips.

JAN

JUL

FEB

AUG

MAR

SEP

APR

OCT

MAY

NOV

JUNE

DEC

ELECTRICAL

OUTDOOR FIRE SAFETY

COOKING

COOKING

SMOKE ALARM TESTING

SMOKE ALARM ACQUISITION

SMOKING

SMOKE ALARM TESTING

SMOKE ALARM ACQUISITION

CANDLES

ESCAPE ROUTES

CHRISTMAS FIRE SAFETY

Essex County

Fire & Rescue Service

Our Values: Respect, Accountability, Openness and Involvement Our Values: Respect, Accountability, Openness and Involvement

Essex CountyFire & Rescue Service Essex CountyFire & Rescue Service

Our Values: Respect, Accountability, Openness and Involvement


35


36


On the road reducing traffic casualties

W ith Essex

c r e w s

attending an

i n c re a s i n g

number of road traffic collisions – 2,659

in 2011/2012, compared to 1,150 the

year before – it’s clear why a significant

amount of resources continue to be

dedicated to reducing the numbers

killed and seriously injured on Essex

roads. Working with key partners, the

Service continues to use successful

tried and tested methods of promoting

road safety, while introducing new

innovative initiatives and campaigns.

Recognising the key role of firefighters

and fire stations in promoting road

safety, special resource packs

containing bespoke lesson plans

have been developed centrally and

will be used in the coming year to

deliver consistent information and

education to most at risk groups.

The Firebike Scheme is entering its

fifth year using a trio of high-powered

motor bikes to deliver road safety

messages to motorcyclists.

Firebike 2013 sees operational

firefighters who are all keen

motorcycle riders and qualified to

at RoSPA Gold Advanced standard

use their experiences as both

firefighters attending RTC’s, and as

motorcycle enthusiasts themselves,

to engage with riders and their pillion

passengers at motorcycle venues

and events throughout Essex in the

coming months

The team take to the road on

three super bikes which have been

supplied to the Service. Canon

BMW Motorcycles in Braintree have

supplied two bikes to the scheme:

a BMW R1200GS Adventure and

a BMW S1000RR. Parkinson

Motorcycles, Colchester have

donated a Ducati 1098S.

Despite making just one percent of

road traffic, motorcyclists are involved

in a quarter of all accidents in which

someone is killed or seriously injured.

Firebike seeks to engage with motor

bikers and help them to become

better and safer riders.

FireBike promotes safer riding;

encourages the use of personal

protective equipment; and promotes

the benefits of advanced rider

training. Since 2007 the number of

motorcyclists involved in collisions

in which someone was killed or

seriously injured have dropped by

37.6%.

Jayne Dando, RTC Reduction

Manager , said: “The FireBike

team get out to motorcycle events

and meets throughout the county

engaging with bikers and using the

public perception of the Service to

promote key motorcycling safety

messages.

“Our firefighters are properly

equipped, wear the correct protective

equipment and make sure that they

are properly trained, these are the

three key things motorcyclists should

be doing.

“FireBike has already proven itself

to be a successful way to engage

with motorcyclists and the team are

looking forward to getting out to meet

as many motorcyclists as they can

this summer.”

❝

37


W e take your input seriously

which is why we have a formal

process in place to deal with

your feedback.

ECFRS has always appreciated the strength and

support it receives from the public and always strives to

achieve the highest levels of service. We are committed to

delivering a professional, efficient operation providing value

for money. With this in mind, we welcome all comments,

compliments and complaints. All correspondence

received will be used in a positive way to improve our

services wherever necessary.

As part of an ongoing process, we conduct a rolling

public opinion survey. 130 people have responded this

year. You can find the survey on our website under the

consultation banner.

As a public service, we have a duty to have in place

a procedure which allows you to tell us when things go

wrong and for us to respond in providing a satisfactory

resolution. A central register of all comments, compliments

and complaints is maintained and, where appropriate

letters are used in our internal publications to provide

direct feedback to staff. It is also used as part of our

auditing process and to monitor the views and opinions

of our customers.

The procedure that we follow ensures:

• All comments, compliments and complaints are

acknowledged

• All complaints are dealt with quickly, politely,

confidentially and fairly

• Any necessary improvements in service are

addressed

• A satisfactory explanation, apology or redress is

provided

• Disagreements are dealt with under our appeals

procedure

We monitor all complaints in order to determine levels of

satisfaction. In 2012/13, we received 25 complaints and

29 compliments. These are complaints and compliments

received via our formal consultation channels.

To contact us: e-mail [email protected]

and we will direct your enquiry to an appropriate member

of staff. Alternatively, call our corporate communications

team on 01376 576035. You can find all of our news and

information on our website essex-fire.gov.uk or visit us on

Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.

07let us know what you think of the Service we supply

Lets talk

Comments, Compliments and Complaints❝

STAY SAFE

For home fire safety advice or to arrange a visit by one of our technicians then contact us now.

☎ 80845 601 2495 www.essex-fire.gov.uk

38

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